Entries in Prime Minister
(2)

JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- Amidst the shamrocks, Guinness and corned beef, and general merriment of St. Patrick’s Day at the White House and on Capitol Hill Thursday, the visit by Ireland’s new prime minister is also a critical outreach mission.

Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny has been in power for less than two weeks. But his trip to Washington this week is significant back in Dublin because it is essentially a sales pitch.

The new Irish government wants to reassure American businesses that it’s still okay to invest in Ireland, despite the fact that the economy is practically on the brink of collapse and the Irish may have to raise their once-very friendly corporate taxes in order to pay off the massive bailouts they received from the European Union.

Kenny is the leader of the center-right political party, Fine Gael, which brokered a coalition government agreement with the center-left Labour party earlier this month. Fine Gael, Labour and the more hard line nationalist/liberal Sinn Fein party won a record numbers of seats in a national election in late February -- in fact, some reports say that this is the first time in Irish history that the Left holds the majority of seats in the government.

So, while everyone Thursday will toast the strong ties between the United States and Ireland, the mission of the Irish Prime Minister is about more than just sharing a pint and a bowl of shamrocks. ﻿

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Sarah Palin is making her first visit to Israel. The former Alaska governor will stop there following a trip to India, where she is visiting for a speech on Saturday. Palin’s trip to Israel follows a parade of Republican presidential hopefuls, including Mitt Romney in January, and, more recently, Mike Huckabee.

While in Israel, Palin is expected to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who often hosts high-profile American politicians. An official in his office said, "The Prime Minister knows the importance of the U.S. political system."

Palin, who arrived in India on Wednesday, will speak to the “India Today Conclave,” an annual public policy forum.

In a press release from the organization, Palin said, “I'm very excited to visit India. Americans have a great respect for the world's largest democracy," adding, "India and the United States are partners in trade and business affairs, and working together our two nations can build a more peaceful and prosperous world."

Palin’s speech will deliver the concluding address at the event; with an talk entitled “My Vision of America.”

Palin has traveled to Hong Kong and Haiti since stepping down as Alaska’s governor in 2009.﻿